The zero people who read this blog know I was highly critical of Feinsand last week, but he not only stood by what he wrote, he essentially put me in my place. In hindsight, I was probably a bit too hard on both writers in my RAB piece, and deep down I do appreciate the tremendous work they do every day. I mean Christ, I've been following the Yankees in the New York tabloids for 13 years, so as much as I might rib the News or the Times, they're still a critical part of following the team on a daily basis. Additionally, not only do Mark and Tyler provide unparalleled access and insight into the world of the Yankees, but they are both significantly ahead of the pack as far as recognizing what bloggers bring to the table.

As Mark wrote yesterday, "We serve different purposes. I can’t remember the last time a blogger without access broke a story about the Yankees, just as I can’t remember the last time I provided a sabermetric analysis of the bullpen. We do different things, and they are both worthy and valid. I’m the farthest thing from that lunatic Buzz…I love many of the blogs out there, and the idea that bloggers and newspaper guys can’t co-exist is ridiculous."

And Tyler also made a great point - "...the mainstream media to a large degree still sets the agenda. Without our access, our writing and our reporting, fans would know a whole lot less about the teams. I agree with my friend Mark tFeinsand hat we serve different purposes, and there’s no reason bloggers and mainstream media can’t co-exist and applaud each other’s work."

Well said on both parts.

Given that both gentlemen apparently read River Ave. Blues among numerous other Yankee blogs, needless to say my foot is lodged so far down my throat that I can kick my own ass.

And it may have just been by sheer coincidence, but Mark, who yesterday said he couldn't remember the last time he provided a sabermetric analysis of the bullpen, did manage to insert this otherwise-unassuming nugget in today's paper:

"Giambi has 14 hits in his last 30 at-bats, lifting his average from .191 to .244. He ranked fourth in the AL in slugging percentage and OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), establishing himself once again as a force after a slow start."

Can't remember the last time - if ever - I saw OPS cited in the Daily News, but I sure do like it.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

"An error by Derek Jeter and a dismal outing by Mike Mussina put the Bombers in a huge hole before A-Rod could even pick up a bat, rendering his return worthless - unless you count his garbage-time two-run homer that allowed the Yankees to avoid the added humiliation of being shut out."

Shame on you, Mark Feinsand. You know better than that. I know you know better than that, because you've displayed at least some modicum of baseball comprehension in your blog posts. Even in a 12-2 drubbing, you can't call A-Rod's two-run homer "garbage time." The guy's been on the DL for three weeks; if anything Yankee fans should be elated that he came right off the DL and was able to knock the ball out of the park.

The mainstream media acts as if it's so easy to hit a home run, and that a baseball player can pick and choose whenever they want to hit one. What the hell was A-Rod supposed to do when the score was 9-0? Would you have actually been happier had he rapped into a double play? Last I checked, there's no such thing as a nine-run home run in baseball. Additionally, as FJM has noted approximately 8 billion times, a home run is the best possible outcome for a hitter. There is not one thing a hitter can do that is a more productive use of his time at the plate than hit the ball out of the fucking park.

Anyone who derides a home run of any kind as "garbage" or "unclutch" because it came in the midst of a blowout doesn't know anything about baseball and should be banned from ever watching another game again.